Archive for category Student Activities

Spring 2014 Class Registration
Yes, it is time to start thinking about Spring 2014 registration! The class schedule for the spring 2014 is now available online through WebSchedule. International Students with an updated education plan will start registering for classes on November 5. You can come by the International Student Center to confirm if your education plan is updated.

Let’s Chat! a Language Partner Program
We are excited to announce “Let’s Chat!” a language partner program that pairs a native English speaker with a non-native speaker to engage in English language conversation practice throughout the semester. This is a great way for you to develop communication skills and get to know someone from another culture. If you’re interested, complete the Let’s Chat Information and Application and submit it to the International Student Center.

Free! Student Leadership Conference
A free three-day student leadership conference is being offered by the Office of Student Life and Leadership. This is a great opportunity you should not pass up! You’ll learn important skills, meet other student leaders, and can include this activity on your scholarship and transfer applications. The next information session is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16 at 3 p.m. in Building 17, Room 112. Topics to be covered are: discovering new leadership skills, conflict resolution techniques, communication skills, and much more.

Three Sources of Exam Help
U.S. News and World Report hosts an international student blog. This week they offered tips on how international students can get help with exams. Those tips are: 1. Go to your teacher’s office hours; 2. Talk to senior students; 3. Ask the professor what is most important to know. Visit their blog for more details.

Hike of the Week
A personal favorite of the International Student Center staff is the Edgewood Park Trail in Redwood City. It is short 2 mile hike when you just need to get away and be among the trees and hills. Although there isn’t a whole lot of shade on the trail, it’s proximity makes for an easy way to reconnect with the nature on the Peninsula.

“Let’s Chat!” a Language Partner Program
We are excited to announce “Let’s Chat!” a language partner program that pairs a native English speaker with a non-native speaker to engage in English language conversation practice throughout the semester. This is a great way for you to develop communication skills and get to know someone from another culture. If you’re interested, complete the “Let’s Chat” Information and Application and submit it to the International Student Center. Let us know if you have any questions.

Associated Students of CSM (ASCSM) Club Fair
The ASCSM Club Fair was held last week and it was a fantastic opportunity to learn about all the different student clubs and organization on campus. Our own International Student Club was out there with a strong representation (see photos below). For those who could not attend the fair and want to learn more about how to join a club, please visit the Office of Student Life in Building 17 or visit the Student Clubs & Organizations page for a list of active clubs on campus.

CSM international students have been busy studying for classes as the new semester gets under way. But they’ve also found ways to get out and see the Bay Area.

Two of our students pictured below stopped by San Francisco’s world famous Fisherman’s Wharf for a crab lunch. While another student enjoyed a bike ride with CSM International Student Center staff. The bike ride started at Oracle headquarters in Redwood Shores, continued along the bay and under the San Mateo Bridge, then onto Coyote Point (a San Mateo County park) before ending in a Starbucks in Burlingame. And finally a photo of some visitors from Japan who we hope will be joining us as students during our next academic year. Busy, but fun times for our students!

If you are a student at CSM and are interested in getting out and seeing more of the Bay Area, please stop by the International Student Center for more information.

Under a nice warm sun today College of San Mateo came alive with the nervous and excited energy of students starting another new semester. We wish all our international students much success during the Fall 2013 semester. All of our students are welcome to come by the International Student Center with questions about finding their classrooms, registering for classes, buying textbooks, or just to stop by and say hello! Last week was our welcome week for students, faculty and staff of the college. The international students got involved in many different events of the welcome week, including a student panel that gave new faculty the opportunity to hear what college is like for students. Javokhir of Uzbikstan, a new international student to CSM from Uzbikstan, was the international student participant on the panel. After the event, he had the opportunity to meet with the Chancellor of our San Mateo Community College District, and had lunch with the President of the college. “I always dreamed about being in America, but I could never imagine my life like this,” Javokhir said when asked about his day.

Sixty-one new international students arriving from as far as Mongolia and Uzbekistan, and as near as Canada, excitedly began their academic careers here at College of San Mateo by attending the International Student Orientation. The two-day orientation was held on Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17.

The students from 18 different countries were welcomed to the college by Vice President of Student Services Jennifer Hughes and Dean of Enrollment Services Dr. Henry Villareal. The new students were given a campus tour, learned about college academics, and introduced to student life. ISC staff also led a group of new students on a tour of the Hillsdale shopping area where the students learned firsthand how to use samTRANS and Caltrains as well as explored the mall.

The ISC is expecting an additional 20 students to arrive to the college during the beginning of August. The total number of international students for the Fall 2013 semester is estimated at more than 190.

As part of our in-depth look at Chinese culture, the International Student Club performed a traditional as well as a modern lion dance. The performances took place on Wednesday, February 20 and Thursday, February 21 in front of the College Center, Building 10. The lion dance goes back more than 2000 years in Chinese culture and celebrates the Lunar New Year celebrations. The lion signifies strength, courage, and wisdom. The International Student Club also screened two Chinese movies during the month on February 13 and February 28 in the Center for Student Life (Building 17, Room 112).

The college played host to an exciting visit by the Beijing No. 4 High School musical touring group on Thursday, February 14. The high school group featured 70 performers who came to CSM after a performance at Serra High School in San Mateo.